Care Homes in Dorset and Hampshire Mark International Day of Friendship

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Care homes in Dorset and Hampshire marked International Day of Friendship with a series of events promoting unity, peace, and cultural awareness. Residents and staff from five Colten Care homes in Poole, Ferndown, Sherborne and the New Forest took part in the festivities, making the day both engaging and memorable.

The events, which celebrated friendship across different cultures, featured a variety of activities tailored to bring residents closer together and strengthen community ties. At The Aldbury in Poole, for example, residents created colourful Friendship Day bunting and painted flags from around the world to decorate their summerhouse. The creative spirit extended to T-shirt designs, with residents wearing shirts bearing messages of love and friendship. The festivities also included a raffle, raising more than £100 for the charity Prama Life.

Sharp, a resident at The Aldbury, said: “It was a great party, very well thought out and very friendly.” This sentiment was echoed across the participating homes, where residents had the opportunity to engage in meaningful, cross-cultural exchanges.

At Bourne View in Poole, four residents handed out Friendship Day postcards and flower posies during trips to local spots such as Sandbanks and Poole Park. The gesture was warmly received by the public, further cementing the sense of community and connection fostered by the event.

Amberwood House in Ferndown also joined the celebrations, featuring songs from different countries, national dress, and an international selection of foods, activities that reflected cultural diversity and the importance of friendship and solidarity, values that remain relevant across communities.

Through these activities, Colten Care homes provided residents with the opportunity to celebrate diversity, forge new connections, and experience the joy that comes with friendship. The success of the day reflected the power of simple, thoughtful gestures in bringing people together across cultural divides.